I’m really curious, when a conductor is conducting a piece on what line is he reading and analysing the music from? It would make sense for him to read the violins as they form the heart of the orchestra. It could be possible, however, that they are reading all the lines of the music although this does seem highly unlikely. No one can multitask like that they can they?
Sure, some parts are beating on their own, where he may well switch his focus on the manuscript. When the orchestra performs at one, which is frequently, what line is read?